Etching-machine.



H. s. LEVY.

ETGHING MACHINE.-

APPLIOATIQILFILED SEPT. 20, 1911.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

I "t mmmxi Atty 7 HOWARD SPENCER LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ETCHING-MAGIHNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented @ct. 29,1912.

Application filed September 20, 1911. Serial No. 650,407.

erodent projected against the exposed face" thereof.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide means for projecting the erodent against the face of the plate so that the etching will bedeep and clear, and all undercutting avoided.

A further object is to provide means for permitting the fumes of the etching acid employed to readily escape out of the machine.

A further object is to provide means whereby different sized plates may be etched in the same apparatus without interchange or adjustment of parts.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention and its detail structure will be fully disclosed in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my apparatus, one of the lateral walls being removed to show the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a detail hereinafter referred to.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a suitable acid proof receptacle wherein the etching action takes place, and the preferred form of this receptacle is best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The receptacle comprises the base 10; rear wall 11; top 12 having the overhanging portion 12 the front wall consisting of the fixed section 13 and the pivoted or hinged section 13 which is hinged to 13 at'13 andthe side walls 14 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 1). Projecting into the receptacle from the wall 11 are several brackets or shelves 15, varying in width and arranged at dift'erentdistances from the base 10. These shelves are adapted to support printing plates 16 during theetching operation. By the provision of a series of shelves 15 constructed in the manner shown, plates of varying sizes may be etched in the same machine without modification of the latter. The plate 16, shown in Fig. 1 as resting on the lowermost of the series of shelves 15, is intended to represent the largest plate which could be effectively etched in an apparatus of this kind. To permit of the plates 16 being inserted in, and removed from, the machine, the upper horizontal section of top wall 12 is mounted on a hinge 12, whereby this top wall section may be moved to open or close the machine, as required.

In one of the side walls 11 is provided a series of orifices 17 in the uppermost one of which a plug or pin 18 is shown as being inserted. The hinged section 13 of the front wall is adapted to rest upon the plug 18, and as the latter may be inserted into any of the orifices 17 the space between the top edge of the section 13 and the underside of the top 12 of the receptacle may be adjusted. This space, which in the drawing is designated by the arrow 19, forms one of the passages through which the fumes from the etching acid pass out of the receptacle. The section 13 has formed thereon a projection or plate 13 which with the overhang 12 of the top of the receptacle forms the final emission passage 20 through which the fumes from the etching acid pass. The in ner face of the hinged section 13 of the wall acts to deflect toward the plate any spray which is thrown in a substantially vertical direction by the sprayers, hereinafter more fully described. If theplate to be etched is of maximum size, as that shown in Fig. 1, the section 13 rests on the plug 18 inserted in the uppermost orifice 17, while if the plate is smaller the section 13 is correspondingly lowered. The overhang 12 and the projection 13 act as battles for the acid-fumes which issue from 'the'machine through the passage '1920.

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'lto properly etch the printing plate or other oh ect to be treated it is eminently desirable that the etching tluid be projected,

until it stands therein at a predetermined levcl and the mechanical sprayers revolve in the liquid and projectthe same as spray against the exposed face, or the plate 16; The receptacle may be drained of its liquid contents by the cook 21': l preferably em ploy several series of, Sprayers of different diameters so thatas these sprayers revolve they. Will project the liquidto different heights against the plate 16 causing simultaneous impact oi thespray against substan tially the is formed oi? a Wheel or disk 22 having at each lateral lace radial inclined slots 2% of suitable pitch and idth, extending to a point short of the center of the disk, that part of the disk containing the slots being preferably thicker than 'th disk at its central-portion. lnpra'ctice, all the disks 22 are provided With slots 22 although in Fig. 2 oi the drawing onlytvvo or the disks are shown as having these slots. A series of such disks 22 is mounted on a shaft 23, one

v end thereof projecting beyond one -Wll=l i i and carrying" a belt pulley 24;, there being nearthe other end of the shaft a bearing block 25 having lateral lugs 26 throiigh which the bolts 27 pass to enter the holes 255 formed. in opposed series in the Wallll. lily the arrangement just described the shafts With their. disks 22 may be raised or lowered and held inadjusted position. The wall it is provided With the elongated slot 29 in which the block 25 slides, and to prevent the emission of liquid through this-slot each of the shatts23 carries near the end adjacent the slot a dished plate 30 revoluble With the shaft and acting as a liquid detlector or butler. In the drawing lhave shown three series of disks QZ'mounted on as many shafts arrangedbehind each other horizontally. The disks are of progressively increasing diameter the object in view being to have each series of disks project liquid up to a certain horizontal level on the plate, the highest level to Which one series of disks projects the liquid corresponding substantially to the lowest level to which the next series of disks projects the liquid, the result oi this arrangement being that there is a ous uniform spray cit liquid over the l 1 th in a pren each or entire exposed tace. Each sprayer .l peace,

snext larger series.

ing out of dislrsis arranged on a separate shaft and each shaft is provided with pulley so that each shaft may be separately power (haven,- whereby l am enabler: to drive all the shafts With their disks in the same direction, or l may it desired drive the shafts in directions opposite to ,each other. 'lShe opposite drive'of the shatts may he desirable in a case Where tor'example it is desired to drive the smaller series of disks in a directionopposite that in Which the next larger. series is driven so that the liquid will be positively projected'upvvardly by the smaller disks and tend to counteract the downward flow of liquid projected the The preferred arrangement of disks isthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the disks of the foremost row are the smallest in diameter, the disks of the next series being larger and the disks of tlie rearmost series being the largest. 1' also prefer to so arrange the "disks that those on the intermediate shaft project between adjacent disks of the first shaft and those on the rearmostshaft project between those on the intermediate shaft:

From the foregoingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying; dra it will be noted thatl have provid sim and effective means *lor accomplishing the following results :-(1) supporting {litter ent sized plates in the machine Without modification of any of its parts; (2} pro ect ing the etching fluid in the form of spray uniformly to" cover of the plate both horizontally and vertn cally; (3) leadlng the fumes, in a greater or less volume, out of the machine; l) adusting the mechanical sprayers vertically in the receptacle so that the sprayers dip into the liquid prec1sely the extent require to effectively pro ect the liquid arrainst the liquid. i- 3111 ton points W here in the ('5) preventing the receptacle at the the shafts which carry the disks bear side Walls of-thereceptacle.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters hatent is hln an. etching mac ine, the combina tion with a receptacle to contain the etching, fluid, of a plurality of means in said receptacle ditlering in size-from each other for projecting the etching fluid to different heights against the object to be etched.

2. In an etching machine, the combination With a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a plurality of revoluble means in plate; and

said receptacle differing in size from each other tor pro ecting the etching tluid to its own hell'- the whole exposed lace said receptacle for projecting the etching fluid to different heights against the object to he etched.

5. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching flu d,

of a. plurality of series of disks in said receptacle, the disks of one series being of different diameter from the disks of the other series, said disks being adapted to project he etching fluid to different heights against the object to he etched.

6. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a plurality of series of disks in said receptacle arranged in a horizontal row, the diameter of said disks progressively increasing from that of the foremost series to that of the rearmost series, said disks being adapted to project the etching fluid to different heights against the object to he etched.

"Z. In an etching machine, the combina tion with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid. of a plurality of shafts vertically adjustable in said receptacle, and means car ried by said shafts for simultaneously projecting the etching fluid to different heights against the object to be etched.

8. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a plurality of shafts vertically adjustable in said receptacle, and a series of disks on each shaft for projecting the etching fluid against the object to he etched.

In an etching machine, the combinaticn with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a plurality of shafts bearing in said receptacle, and a series of disks on each shaft, the diameter of the disks on one shaft differing from that of the disks on the other shafts.

10. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid. of a plurality of shafts vertically adjustable in said receptacle and arranged in a horizontal row, and a series of disks on each shaft, the diameter of said disks progressively increasing from that of the foremost series of disks to that of the rearmost series. l

11. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid. of a mechanical sprayer in said receptacle, said mechanical sprayer including a disk having a plane peripheral surface and lateral slots cut in the material of said disk.

In an etching machine the combination with a receptacle to contain the etch- .inglhiid, of a mechanical sprayer in said receptacle, said mechanical sprayer including a disk having a plane peripheral surface and radial slots 01 each of its lateral faces. 1

13. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a mechanical sprayer in said receptacle, said mechanical sprayer including a disk having a plane peripheral surface and inclined radial slots on each of its lat eral faces.

14;. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etch-' ing fluid, of amechanical sprayer in said receptacle, said mechanical sprayer including a disk thicker at its periphery than at its central portion and having a series of inclined radial slots in'each of its lateral faces at the thickened portion of said disk.

15. In an etching machine the combination with an etching-fluid receiving-receptacle having one wall thereof angularly adjustable in relation to the top of the receptacle, and means in said receptacle for projecting the fluid therein to different heights against the object to he etched.

16. In an etching machine, the combination with an etching-fluid receiving-receptacle having one wall thereof angular-1y adjustable in relation to the top of the receptacle. of means for retaining said wall in adjusted position, and means in the receptacle for projecting the fluid therein to different heights against the object to be etched.

17. In an etching machine the combination of an etching-fluid receiving-receptacle having an overhanging top, a wall of said receptacle adjustable in relation to the top of the receptacle, a plate on said adjustable wall projecting toward the overhang of the top, and means in the receptacle for projecting the liquid therein to different heights against the object to be etched.

18. In an etching machine the combination of an etching-fluid receiving-receptacle having one wall thereof hinged and angularly adjustable in relation to the top of the receptacle, means whereby said wall may he held in its adjusted angular position. and means in the receptacle for projecting the fluid therein to different heights against the object to be etched.

19. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of a plurality of na-ans varying in width for vertically supporting different sized objects to be etched in the receptacle, and means for projecting the etching fluid against said object.

20. In an etching machine, the combination with a receptacle to contain the etching fluid, of means-varying in width for vertically supporting different sized objects to be etched in the receptacle, and means in Hue receptacle f0: projecting the etching fluid against seicl object to a height correspcmllng t0 that which he object stands in the receptacle.

Q1. ln etching machine, the combine.- tion with a receptacle [0 contain the etel: ing finial of a plimrality of brackets," of liifl ferent Width extending into the recepmcle from one wall thereof and eelaptecl to V81- tieull support the (injects to be etched, and means for projecting 'fne etching; fluid against said objects.

22. In an etching; machine, the combinetlcn will; a eeceptecle to contain ing fluid cf a plmfv liy 0:5 breekeie of elliierent Width Glitfillflllllfz ime the 'recey ieele from cne Well thereon: adapted e) vertically suppert different S'lE-ed cb'jecte :0 be

legpiies l lnis peten'l;

fluid deflector on each 'slze'fl adi'acle u jacent the slot, mechanical s; ayess em'ried by said -halite, and. means ihe l'ecepiaele fer supporting 'illfi objeclis t0 be e'lcllecl.

In testimen r whereof eelllrzml my signature in presence 01 HUVl l l a3 MEG-556E527 Orerc Mime ARTHUR Lemezmq 

